Most pedestrian accidents across the nation are linked to some form of driver negligence (carelessness), statistics show. In New York City, for example, we frequently see a number of drivers engaging in actions that put pedestrians in grave danger. Even now, with the streets emptying out due to the coronavirus pandemic, the city continues to deal with pedestrian accidents that result in serious injury and/or death.
Pedestrian fatalities in the United States reached their highest level in 30 years even as the nation’s traffic accident fatalities overall have been falling. According to a recent report released by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), an estimated 6,590 pedestrians were killed in car accidents last year, amounting to a nearly 5 percent increase from the 6,283 deaths in 2018. While the number of pedestrian fatalities increased by more than 50% from 2009 to 2018, the total number of all other types of traffic accident fatalities rose only by 2%, the report states.
Tips for Drivers
In such cases, drivers can definitely make a difference and do have the ability to curb this growing trend of injury pedestrian accidents and fatalities. Here are seven things motorists can do in order to prevent pedestrian deaths, according to a public safety alert put out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee:
1. Drivers should yield for pedestrians at crosswalks and at intersections. This is not just a suggestion. In New York State and in many other states, this is a law. A number of pedestrian accidents, especially those at busy intersections, occur because drivers failed to yield the right of way to pedestrians. It is also important for drivers to remember not to block crosswalks when stopping at intersections.
2. Slow down and obey speed limits. During the coronavirus pandemic, there have been a number of reports about drivers operating on city streets at an excessive rate of speed. Roads and highways becoming free from the usual traffic are apparently causing drivers to violate speed limits and this can be deadly for pedestrians. Research shows that the greater the speed of the vehicle involved, the more serious the injury suffered by the pedestrian.
3. Be extra cautious around schools, playgrounds and residential neighborhoods where children may be present. Pedestrian accidents around New York City schools motivated the city to install speeding cameras, which have yielded thousands of citations.
4. Always look for pedestrians especially before turning at a green light or making a “right turn on red.” Many pedestrian accidents tend to occur when vehicles make a turn at an intersection. As a driver, it is crucial to pay attention and be more cautious, especially in such situations.
5. Do not run stop signs or red lights. This is also not a suggestion for drivers, but the law. Drivers should come to a complete stop at red lights as well as at stop signs and look for pedestrians, bicyclists and other vehicles before they proceed.
6. Be careful when passing stopped vehicles. They may be stopping for other pedestrians.
7. Do not text and drive and never drive while distracted. There is no question that the proliferation of cell phones is putting the lives of pedestrians at risk because drivers are paying less attention to the road. If you are driving, it is best to put your phone away until you reach your destination.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, or if you have lost a loved one in an auto accident caused by a negligent (careless) driver, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you.
Pedestrian accident victims and their families should remember that they may be able to seek compensation for injuries or losses in collisions even if the person was not walking in a marked crosswalk and even if the driver has not been charged. Our law firm recovered the full one million dollar insurance policy for a girl who was not in the crosswalk when a motor vehicle hit her.
For over 49 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses. Our law firm recently recovered $5,600,000 for a bicyclist who was hit by a van, and $2,550,000 for another victim of a truck accident, and $3,000,000 for a pedestrian who was hit by a car, and the full $1,000,000 insurance policy for a pedestrian who was hit by a truck, and $4,625,000 for a driver who was in a car and was hit by a van, and $2,500,000 for a man who fell through an improperly secured hole. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury and medical malpractice cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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